"No Rejection at All" Female Employee Sexual Harassment by City Councilor Absurd Explanation

Employee of Yangsan City Council in Gyeongnam exposes male councilor's sexual harassment
"Please refrain from kissing"... continued despite refusal
Claims of "sowing discord if not following to bar"... investigation underway

KakaoTalk message screen between Assemblyman A and Mr. B. [Image source=Yonhap News]

A male member of the Yangsan City Council in Gyeongnam has been accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a female employee, prompting the police to launch an investigation. It was revealed that the council member continued the sexual harassment despite the victim expressing refusal multiple times. However, the council member claims that “there was no sign of refusal at all.”

According to the Yangsan Police Station on the 16th, a report was filed on the 12th alleging that Council Member A of the People Power Party sexually harassed female employee B of the city council for over a year since July 2022. The KakaoTalk conversation between Council Member A and B, released by Yonhap News Agency on the same day, contains related evidence.

"Hitting the buttocks was excessive"…Messages reveal sexual harassment details

In the conversation, when B said, “Chairman, I really appreciate how much you care for me, but please refrain from excessive physical contact like the kiss earlier,” Council Member A replied, “Sorry~ I did it as a thank you for helping me, but I overdid it again~ I will refrain from it again.”

Later, when B sent a message saying, “Hitting my buttocks was excessive. Please refrain from such excessive teasing in the future,” Council Member A responded, “I sincerely apologize for teasing you so harshly.” In addition, Council Member A reportedly called B “favorite” and “pretty one,” repeatedly asked for photos, and engaged in inappropriate physical contact.

A Assemblyman and Mr. B's KakaoTalk message screen. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to B, she repeatedly expressed refusal to Council Member A’s behavior, but the situation did not change. The harassment continued every time she declined A’s invitations to drinking gatherings. On the 16th, B told MBC, “He hit or touched my buttocks, hugged me forcibly, and kissed me against my will every time I went to his office,” and said she was reluctantly taken to karaoke rooms or bars.

B said, “If I didn’t go, he would continue to sow discord among employees or badmouth me to other council members,” adding, “Every time I was taken out, I informed a friend about the harassment, sent the karaoke address, and asked them to report it if anything went wrong.” Council Member A also called B after midnight.

Reported to police after transfer…Council member claims “no sign of refusal”

Eventually, B, who was recently transferred to another region in a personnel reshuffle, reported Council Member A to the police. After completing a preliminary investigation of B, the police plan to summon and question Council Member A. Regarding the allegations, Council Member A reportedly explained that “I thought it was okay because there was no refusal.” He told MBC, “If she felt uncomfortable, she would have shown it continuously afterward, but there was no sign of refusal at all.”

The Gyeongnam Provincial Party of the Democratic Party immediately issued a statement demanding Council Member A’s resignation, saying, “The victim must have endured hell every day.” The Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters of the Korean Government Employees’ Union will hold a press conference in front of the Yangsan City Council on the 17th to condemn Council Member A.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.